ES2829276T3 - Injection device protection device, in particular an injection device for medical use, such as a syringe - Google Patents

Abstract

Device (1) for protecting an injection device, in particular an injection device for medical use, such as a syringe, comprising a body (2) in which the injection device is placed, a mobile sleeve (3) with respect to said body (2), means (4) for moving this sleeve (3) with respect to the body (2) and locking means (5, 6, 7) that make it possible to lock the sleeve (3) in a position protected; the sleeve (3) can move between an unprotected position, in which an injection member comprised by the injection apparatus is exposed in a manner that allows injection, and said protected position, in which the sleeve (3) completely covers the injection member; said locking means (5, 6, 7) comprise at least one flexible proximal lug (7) integral with the sleeve (3), which forms a first bearing surface (7a) through which said lug (7) is engages, in said protected position, behind at least a first corresponding distal bearing surface arranged of said body (2); the lug (7) comprises an additional bearing surface (7d) arranged thereon, and the device (1) comprises a corresponding additional bearing surface (10c), characterized in that - the flexible proximal lug (7) has a reduced thickness , in such a way that it can assume a position between a body of the injection apparatus and the body (2) of the device (1); - the respective additional bearing surfaces (7d, 10c) being capable of bearing against each other when a force is exerted on the sleeve (3) in the direction that tends to return this sleeve (3) towards its unprotected position, - the leg (7) comprises an inclined edge (7d) extending over its entire length, said additional support surface comprised by said leg (7), and - the device comprises at least one wall (10) having an edge ( 10c) inclined rectilinear also extending over the entire length of this wall, forming said additional support surface (10c) of the device (1).

Description

DESCRIPTION

Injection device protection device, in particular an injection device for medical use, such as a syringe

The present invention relates to a device for the protection of an injection apparatus, in particular an injection apparatus for medical use such as a syringe.

In this application, the distal end of a part or device is considered to be the end furthest from the injection site. Likewise, in this application, the term "distal direction" refers to the direction of injection, and "proximal direction" designates the direction opposite to the direction of injection.

It is known to provide a protective device for an injection apparatus comprising a body in which the injection apparatus is placed, a sleeve movable with respect to this body, means that allow the sleeve to move, and means that allow the sleeve to be locked. in the protected position. The sleeve is movable between an unprotected position, in which an injection member comprised by the injection apparatus is exposed in a manner that allows injection, and a protected position, in which the sleeve completely covers the injection member of a manner that limits the risk of contamination of the user by this injection member and prevents reuse of the injection apparatus. Said injection member is the needle of the syringe when the injection apparatus is a syringe.

Document WO 2005/030301, in the name of the applicant, illustrates one such protection device. In this known device, as illustrated by the attached figure 1, the means for locking the sleeve 3A in the protected position comprise at least one flexible proximal lug 7A integral with the sleeve 3A, being engaged, in the protected position. , behind a corresponding distal edge 51A arranged at the end of a rib 5A integral with said body. The sleeve 3A also comprises, in its proximal part, at least one wall 10A adjacent to the lug 7A, which protrudes in the proximal direction.

The flexible lug 7A has a relatively significant length (it is also part of the means that allow the mobility of the bushing 3A, being, in the unprotected position, engaged in a proximal ring formed by the rib 5A and, at the injection end, being deformed by a cam surface actuated by the piston rod so that it is released from this ring). It also has a relatively small thickness, such that it can assume a position between the body of the syringe and the body of the device, and it is made of a material that has a degree of elastic flexibility, so that it can be deformed between its hooked position. making it possible to keep the sleeve 3A in the unprotected position and its disengaged position allowing movement of the sleeve 3A towards the protected position.

The present invention aims to improve the structure of the protection device as previously established, known from the earlier document mentioned above.

Documents WO 02/083205, WO 01/85239, WO 99/17823 and WO 03/013632 disclose various prior art devices that do not comprise a flexible proximal leg assuming a position between a body of the injection apparatus and the body of the device, as described above.

The device to which the invention refers, comprises, in a known manner, a body in which the injection apparatus is placed, a sleeve movable with respect to said body, means for moving said sleeve with respect to the body, and means for lock that allows the sleeve to be locked in a protected position; the sleeve can be moved between an unprotected position, in which an injection member comprised by the injection apparatus is exposed in a manner that allows injection, and said protected position, in which the sleeve completely covers the injection member; said locking means comprise at least one flexible proximal lug integral with the sleeve, forming a first bearing surface by means of which said lug engages, in said protected position, behind at least one corresponding first distal bearing surface of said body ; the flexible leg has a reduced thickness, such that it can assume a position between a wall of the injection apparatus and said body of the device.

The invention is defined in appended claim 1.

The additional bearing surface thus provided makes it possible to increase the bearing surface of the temple with the rest of the device and therefore to better distribute the surface on which the force supported by the temple is exerted during an action that tends to return the cuff to unprotected position. The result is that the lug according to the invention has a greatly increased resistance with respect to that of the device according to the prior art, which makes it possible to efficiently avoid all attempts to force the sleeve towards its unprotected position. Furthermore, within the same example of a plurality of devices, the resistance measured in said thrust shows itself to be largely sufficient to obtain the desired protection in all cases.

Preferably, said additional support surfaces of the temple and the device are arranged at a location located substantially between one third and two thirds of the length of the temple (that is, the dimension of the latter extends along the axis sleeve slip).

The arrangement of these additional bearing surfaces in this location makes it possible to efficiently oppose the risk of deformation of the leg, said leg being supported by these bearing surfaces located substantially at the level of its median area, that is, in its area as very much in a condition of being subjected to deformation.

According to one possibility, the leg, when intended to be elastically deformed to engage behind said first distal bearing surface, comprises an area having a reduced cross section, located away from said further bearing surfaces.

This area having a reduced cross section makes it possible to increase the flexibility of the leg in a way that promotes its engagement behind said first distal bearing surface; this flexibility also makes it possible to promote the arrival of said additional support surfaces in mutual cooperation, when the leg is subjected to the force generated by the action that returns the sleeve to the unprotected position. In particular, when it is necessary to provide clearances between said additional bearing surfaces to allow engagement of the temple behind said first distal bearing surface, said area having a reduced cross-section may be subjected to compression in the longitudinal direction of the leg. pin ensuring the elimination of these gaps and therefore the perfect arrival in mutual contact of the additional support surfaces.

The invention will be understood, and other characteristics and advantages thereof will appear, with reference to the attached schematic drawings, which illustrate, as a non-limiting example, a preferred embodiment of the device to which they relate.

Figure 2 is a side view, in longitudinal cross section passing through its axis, according to a first embodiment that does not form part of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a partial view, similar to Figure 2, on a larger scale, showing a distal part of the body that comprises it and the proximal part of a sleeve that also comprises it;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the proximal portion of the sleeve;

Figure 5 is a side view of this proximal portion;

Figures 6 to 8 are views of this proximal portion and a rib comprised by said body to lock the sleeve in three positions with respect to said body; Y

Figures 9 to 11 are views similar to Figures 6 to 8, respectively, of said proximal portion and said locking rib, according to a second embodiment of the locking tab comprised by this proximal portion, according to the present invention.

For simplicity, parts or elements of one embodiment that are found identically or similarly in another embodiment will be identified using the same reference numerals and will not be described again.

Figures 2 and 3 illustrate a protection device 1 of an injection apparatus, in particular an injection apparatus for medical use, which, in the illustrated example, is a syringe.

The device 1 comprises a body 2 in which the syringe body 100 is placed, a bushing 3 movable with respect to this body 2, a spring four for moving this bushing 3 with respect to the body 2, and a set 5, 6, 7 lock that allows the sleeve 3 to be locked in the position illustrated, referred to as the "protected position". In general, the device is very similar to that described in document No. WO 2005/030301, in the name of the applicant, to which we can refer for more detailed explanations.

The body 2 is tubular and has an overall length that can house the syringe body 100, but in which the syringe needle protrudes beyond the distal end of said body 2 when the sleeve 3 is in an "unprotected" position. . In this position, the sleeve 3 is led completely inside the body 2, assuming a position between the wall of the latter and the body 100 of the syringe, and the spring 4, inserted between the sleeve 3 and the proximal ring that receives the body. 2, it is tensioned.

The body 2 comprises two diametrically opposed ribs 5, integral with said body and projecting inwards, one of which is illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 despite the longitudinal cross-section of the body 2. Each rib 5 comprises designed notched ends to cooperate with a pair of proximal lugs 6, 7 comprised by sleeve 3, in the same manner as described in document No. WO 2005/030301 described above. In summary, in said unprotected position, these proximal lugs 6 and 7 engage in the proximal end of rib 5, and therefore ensure the maintenance of sleeve 3 in this position despite the elastic return force of spring 4. At the injection end, these pins 6, 7 are elastically deformed by cam-shaped projections 8 arranged on a proximal ring 9, which in turn moves by the piston rod of the syringe, in such a way that they are disengaged from the rib 5, the sleeve 3 being therefore released, the spring 4 relaxes and brings the sleeve 3 to the illustrated protected position, in which the sleeve 3 completely covers the syringe needle; Between the two lugs 6, 7, the lug 7 illustrated on the right in Figures 2 and 3 slides along the rib 5, and when the bushing 3 reaches its protected position, it engages through the elastic return in the distal notch formed by rib 5. A first bearing surface 7a comprised by lug seven at its proximal end then enters the vicinity of a ring of rib 5 that defines said distal notch, therefore blocking sleeve 3 in the protected position.

In addition to the lugs 6 and 7, the sleeve 3 comprises, in its proximal part, as shown more particularly by Figures 3 to 5, fixed walls 10 adjacent to the lugs 7, projecting in the proximal direction.

As can be seen by comparing Figures 1 on the one hand and 2 to 5 on the other hand, it can be seen that each pin 7 and the adjacent wall 10 shown in Figures 2 to 5 has a shape that differs from that corresponding to pin 7A. and the projecting wall 10A of the device according to the prior art illustrated in figure 1.

In fact, the lug 7 illustrated in Figures 2 to 5 has an enlarged upper portion, which forms an extension in the circumferential direction, this extension having a lower edge 7b that forms a first additional bearing surface and an end edge 7c on the circumferential direction, which forms a second additional bearing surface. The bearing surface formed by the edge 7b is arranged substantially transversely with respect to the axis of the bushing 3 and the bearing surface formed by the edge 7c is arranged substantially longitudinally with respect to the axis of the sleeve 3. These bearing surfaces they are arranged substantially midway above pin 7.

The adjacent wall 10 has, on its side adjacent to the lug 7, a rectangular notch 11 which forms a ring 11b that extends substantially in the transverse direction with respect to the axis of the sleeve 3 and a ring 11c that extends substantially in the direction longitudinal with respect to the axis of sliding of the bushing 3.

As can be seen with reference to Figures 6 to 8, the notch 11 allows engagement of the lug 7 in the distal notch of the rib 5 despite the increased width of the proximal portion of this lug 7 (see figures 6 and 7).

When a tension is exerted on the bush 3 in the direction that lifts this bush 3 back towards said unprotected position, the lug 7 tends to compress longitudinally. The respective additional bearing surfaces 7b, 7c and 11b, 11c then bear against each other (see figure 8), the surfaces 7b, 11b constrain the lug 7 according to the longitudinal direction of this lug and the surfaces 7c, 11c restrict the lug 7 according to the circumferential direction of the bushing 3. These surfaces 7b, 7c and 11b, 11c make it possible to increase the bearing surface of the lug 7 with the rest of the device 1 and therefore to better distribute the surface in which the tension suffered by the lug 7 is exerted during an attempt to push the sleeve 3 towards the unprotected position; furthermore, the restriction of the lug 7 produced by these bearing surfaces takes place in the middle area of the lug 7, that is to say, in the area of said lug most possibly undergoing deformation.

As a result of the arrangement of these additional bearing surfaces, the lug 7 has, with respect to that of the device according to the prior art, a greatly increased resistance, which makes it possible to efficiently oppose the thrust of the sleeve 3 towards the position not protective. Furthermore, within the same example of a plurality of devices 1, the resistance measured in said thrust shows itself to be largely sufficient to obtain the desired protection in all cases.

Figures 9 to 11 illustrate an embodiment of the device 1 according to the present invention, in which the leg 7 has, from the side of the wall 10, a rectilinear inclined edge 7d extending over its entire length, while wall 10 has, instead of notch 11, an inclined rectilinear edge 10c which also extends over its entire length.

As shown in figure 11, from an attempt to push the sleeve 3 towards the unprotected position, the inclined edge 7d makes an extended abutment against the edge 10c of the wall 10. The surface of this abutment increases as increase the intensity of the push.

In this other embodiment, the lug 7 comprises an area 12 having a reduced cross section, located at its base, that is to say, away from the additional bearing surfaces formed by the edges 7d and 10c.

This area 12 makes it possible to increase the flexibility of the lug 7 in order to promote its engagement in the distal notch of the rib 5; this flexibility also makes it possible to promote the mutual cooperation of said additional bearing surfaces 7d, 10c when the lug 7 undergoes the stress generated by the action that tends to return the sleeve 3 to the unprotected position. In particular, when it is necessary to provide clearances between said additional bearing surfaces 7d, 10c to allow engagement of the lug 7 in the distal notch of the rib 5, the area 12 can undergo a compression in the longitudinal direction of the lug 7 ensuring the elimination of these gaps and therefore a perfect mutual contact of the bearing surfaces 7d, 10c.

It is appreciated from the foregoing that the invention provides a protection device for an injection apparatus, in particular an injection apparatus for medical use such as a syringe which, with respect to similar devices of the prior art, has the decisive advantages described above.

The invention has been described with reference to the embodiments provided purely as examples. It goes without saying that it is not limited to these embodiments, but extends to all embodiments covered by the appended claims.

Claims (3)

1. Device (1) for protecting an injection device, in particular an injection device for medical use, such as a syringe, comprising a body (2) in which the injection device is placed, a sleeve (3 ) movable with respect to said body (2), means (4) for moving this sleeve (3) with respect to the body (2) and locking means (5, 6, 7) that make it possible to lock the sleeve (3) in a protected position; the sleeve (3) can move between an unprotected position, in which an injection member comprised by the injection apparatus is exposed in a manner that allows injection, and said protected position, in which the sleeve (3) completely covers the injection member; said locking means (5, 6, 7) comprise at least one flexible proximal lug (7) integral with the sleeve (3), which forms a first bearing surface (7a) through which said lug (7) is engages, in said protected position, behind at least one first corresponding distal bearing surface arranged of said body (2); the lug (7) comprises an additional bearing surface (7d) arranged thereon, and the device (1) comprises a corresponding additional bearing surface (10c), characterized in that - the flexible proximal lug (7) has a reduced thickness, such that it can assume a position between a body of the injection device and the body (2) of the device (1); - the respective additional bearing surfaces (7d, 10c) being able to bear against each other when a force is exerted on the sleeve (3) in the direction that tends to return this sleeve (3) towards its unprotected position, - the lug (7) comprises an inclined edge (7d) that extends over its entire length, forming said additional support surface comprised by said lug (7), and - the device comprises at least one wall (10) having an inclined rectilinear edge (10c) also extending over the entire length of this wall, said additional support surface (10c) of the device (1) forming. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said additional support surface (7d; 10c) of the lug (7) and of the device (1) is arranged in a location located substantially between one third and two thirds the length of the lug (7). Device (1) according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the leg (7) comprises an area (12) having a reduced cross section, located away from said additional bearing surfaces.